Boracay Island is still a turtle haven as they keep on laying eggs and turtle hatchlings are seen once again crawling back to its home – the vast ocean.

During the beautiful sunset of December 6, 2022, in one of the world's beautiful beach, another majestic moment was witnessed by the locals and tourists: a total of 77 Olive ridley turtle hatchlings emerged from its nest.

The turtle eggs were safely moved to a higher ground by CENRO Boracay personnel upon its discovery last October 2022, because the nesting site can be reached by the sea water during high tide and monsoon as per experiences in the past years, and it was a recreational area.

The DENR CENRO Boracay thru the PAMBCU/Coastal Unit Personnel and the Management of Movenpick Resort and Spa facilitated the release of the healthy marine turtle hatchlings.

This is one indicator and achievement for the goals of rehabilitation and recovery of ecosystems in Boracay island as well as in the conservation and protection of these threatened species.

“Seeing those tiny flippers of hatchlings crawling back to its home is a strong proof that Boracay Island have indeed regained back its healthy marine waters,” said DENR 6 Regional Director Livino B. Duran.

RED Duran also lauded the efforts of CENRO Boracay led by CENR Officer Joanette S. Opeda in the implementation of biodiversity conservation in the island. “The efforts and vigilance of CENRO Boracay along with its close collaboration with the private sectors to ensure biodiversity protection and conservation, is truly commendable,” he added.

The Olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) is considered a vulnerable (VU) species while the Hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) is considred critically endangered (CR) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List. Both of these marine turtle species keep coming back and lay eggs in the soft, white sands of Boracay Island./DENR 6

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Category: Regional Releases

Published: 09 December 2022

In celebration of the National Day for Youth in Climate Action and ASEAN Youth in Climate Action and Disaster Resilience, the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) Aklan spearheaded the Coastal Clean-up and mangrove planting on Nov. 25, 2022 along the coastal areas of Andagao and New Buswang, Kalibo, Aklan. A total of 69 volunteers from PENRO Aklan, Northwestern Visayan College, and People’s Organization-KASAMA participated the above-mentioned activity.

Meanwhile, PENRO Iloilo also conducts tree planting and potting of seedlings on December 2, 2022 at Bo. Obrero, La Paz, Iloilo City. It was attended by PENRO Iloilo and CENRO Guimbal personnel, including the focal person for youth of the respective offices. There are a total of 475 potted seedlings namely: Caballero (200 seedlings), Talisay(35 seedlings), and Fire Tree (240 seedlings), and planted 31 seedlings of Tapuyay

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Category: Regional Releases

Published: 06 December 2022

The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) Negros Occidental celebrated the 8th National Bicycle Day on November 28, 2022 at Calatrava Ecopark, with more or less 200 biking enthusiasts from different biking groups and organizations in the province.

PENRO Negros Occidental led by OIC-PENRO Joan Nathaniel F. Gerangaya fully supported this activity with the theme "Clean Air through a Bicycle Friendly Philippines." It was participated by PENRO Negros Occidental, Northern Negros Natural Park (NNNP), and CENRO Cadiz personnel, Local Govenrment Units (LGUs), and other environmental partners.

Mayor Marilyn A. Era and Councilor John Mark Fabroz of the Municipality of Calatrava gave their messages of gratitude and support to all environment-related activities.

One of the highlights of the activity was the planting of one hundred (100) white lauan seedlings in designated planting areas at the ecopark, and the pledged of commitment as they synchronously state the Panata sa Kalikasan.

The National Bicycle Day was initiated and organized together with DENR since 2014. In 2020, the National Bicycle Day was officially declared by the National Government through Presidential Proclamation 1052 declaring the 4th Sunday of November as National Bicycle Day.This annual observance aims to promote the environmental benefits of bicycles and highlight the importance of non-motorized transportation as a means of fostering sustainable development and promoting environmental health.

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Category: Regional Releases

Published: 06 December 2022

The province of Antique, touted as the place “where the mountains meet the sea,” is yet about to rise from the great onslaught of typhoon Paeng. But no storms will ever dampen the zeal of Antique from striving for greater improvements.

During the recent meeting of the Malandog River Rehabilitation and Development Project (MaRiReDep), DENR Antique Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) Cynthia Blancia called on all partner agencies and stakeholders to continue supporting the efforts poured into the project.

It could be recalled that the rehabilitation and development of the Malandog River was snowballed after a thorough water quality assessment by the team of Environmental Management Bureau in 2017. Former DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu then called Malandog River an “ancient tourism destination” owing to the historical fact that it attracted the ten Bornean datus to its pristine waters.

In the offing is the implementation of Malandog’s tourism development plan which would include the display of larger-than-life statues of the ten Bornean datus in Sitio Sumakwel, Brgy. Malandog, Hamtic, Antique. Standing at the height of fifteen feet, probably the tallest in the region, the statues are made of cement with bronze coating and were sculpted by John Alaban. It thereby immortalizes the heritage of the Bornean datus and reinforces the importance of Malandog River as the cradle of civilization in Panay Island especially in the consciousness of the younger generations.

Also part of the tourism development will be the Malandog River floating restaurant, and a river cruise

MaRiReDep Task Force members also encouraged the general public to invest in any of the activities they implement since one of the objectives of Malandog River Ecotourism is to encourage community engagement to generate jobs for economic upliftment. There is also a plan to adopt trash traps and set-up of boundaries of each barangay with rivers identified as tributaries of Malandog river.

“Our barangay captains play a big role in achieving clean and quality water for Malandog River through our strict implementation of the solid waste management. We further need to relocate the informal settlers who took up dwelling along the legal easement of the river,” said PENRO Cynthia Blancia.

“Our aim is to ensure a sustainable future for all Antiqueños. As long as we work together and cooperate for the good of our environment and the people, we can achieve our goals,” said Regional Executive Director Livino B. Duran of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

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Published: 16 November 2022

A 10.5 foot Reticulated python (Malayopython reticulatus) was captured in Bacolod City in the province of Negros Occidental.

In the early morning of November 7, 2022, a team from the Bureau of Fire Protection–Special Rescue Force (BFP-SRF) in Negros Occidental got a call from a certain Andrew dela Torre who reported that a python (locally called “Magkal”) is seen hiding on top of a Mango tree and had killed one of their chickens.

The Office of the BFP-SRF headed by Inspector Jun Michael A Manuel  together with Bacolod PNP Station 3 then went to the area and captured the snake using improvised equipments. It was seen on the top of a Mango tree at dela Torre's residence at Purok Santol, Brgy. Mandalagan, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental. The team packed the snake inside a sack then turned it over to DENR PENRO Negros Occidental for proper identification, check up and release at around nine o’clock of the same day.

The Reticulated python was released into a forested area in Don Salvador Benedicto, which is part of the Northern Negros Natural Park (NNNP) on November 8 after ensuring that it is in good condition. Personnel of the NNNP led the team that released the said wildlife into its natural habitat.

“We commend the responsive move of the BFP-SRF Negros Occidental and the active assistance of our PENRO Negros Occidental as well. Wildlife has their proper place in our ecosystem, and we need to understand that they should be protected as well. They are not enemies rather, they help keep our ecosystems balanced,” said regional executive director Livino B. Duran of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

DENR Administrative Order (DAO) 2019-09 otherwise known as “Updated National List of Threatened Philippine Fauna” classified the Reticulated python as Other Threatened Species (OTS). Reticulated python is under threat from adverse factors such as over collection throughout its range and destruction of their habitats.

Reticulated pythons are usually large and are quite aggressive feeders. Although their temperament can be calm, they can cause danger to their owners. Nonetheless, they play a good role as a natural pest control.

One of DENR’s priority programs, enhanced biodiversity conservation focuses not only on preserving natural habitats like watersheds, wildlife sanctuaries and mangrove habitats but also preserving the diversity of species.

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Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Regional Releases

Published: 16 November 2022